Research to find animals' ideal homes

The project aims to improve the farm environment

Satellites will be used to track sheep in a project aimed at finding the ideal living arrangements for farm animals.

The study is also recreating forest floors for pigs to allow them to sniff around plant roots.

Experts from Oxford University, UK, are working with farmers to use the latest behavioural and scientific techniques to study what type of environment best suits the animals.

They hope the research will help improve living conditions and animal welfare on farms across the UK.

The scheme is backed by the BBC's John Craven

The Food Animal Initiative, based at the Oxford University farm in Wytham, is being backed by BBC television celebrity John Craven.

Professor Paul Harvey, head of the department of zoology at Oxford, said: "The two fundamental components of animal welfare are what makes animals healthy and what the animals themselves want.

"The challenge is to embed the two into commercial farming so that good welfare goes hand in hand with viable agricultural systems.

"Achieving this balance is a challenge that can best be met by bringing the research and farming communities together.

'Animal behaviour'

"Our expertise at zoology is in using animal behaviour to tell us what the animals want."

Mr Craven, presenter of BBC One's Countryfile, said: "The launch of the Food Animal Initiative marks an important step in the future of British farming.

"The best scientific brains on animal behaviour and farmland ecology are joining forces with the agriculture community in a unique project to help farmers and their animals.

"Using the latest techniques to learn what is best for our animals, and effectively involving them in the development of farms, will give welcome support to the ongoing evolution of British agriculture."

Tracking sheep with satellites will help scientists find out more about their movements and which fields would provide the best conditions.